Happy band:

Assistant coach flattered by comments but insists the best is yet to come

Stuart Hogg could not resist making a joke at the expense of squad mate Finn Russell as Scotland prepare to unleash their bid for the Six Nations Championship against Ireland at Murrayfield at the weekend.

All the premature praise for being the potentially best team in two decades is “nice enough” but means nothing to Scotland ahead of the RBS Six Nations, believes assistant coach Jason O’Halloran.

The Kiwi, who joined up last year to oversee Scotland attack systems – and they scored more tries in a Six Nations than ever before – believes that this team won’t even peak for another two years despite the comments from Jim Telfer and Alan Tait that this is the best Scotland side since the 1999 Five Nations champions.

“It’s flattering, but it doesn’t give us any points when we start against Ireland,” he said ahead of Saturday’s opener at BT Murrayfield. “It maybe gives us a bit more confidence, but it doesn’t give us a five-point start.

“Ultimately this team will be at its best in a couple of years’ time when you get more guys around that 50-cap mark and we continue to grow our leadership.

“But Ireland are an outstanding team and beating the All Blacks as comfortably as they did in Chicago just tells you what a complete football team they are. It’s a huge and exciting challenge.”

Although there’s huge respect for the Irish, O’Halloran believes the Scots’ own plans are the most important aspect to them.

“First and foremost, it’s 80% our game plan and what we’re going to do,” he continued. “Then it’s 20% about what Ireland are going to throw at us and how we counter that.

“Sometimes you get too carried away in trying to have separate game plans for Ireland, England, France … and you take your eye off the ball, which is doing your stuff really well.

‘The All Blacks are leaders in global rugby. You know what you’re going to get from them week to week. They just do it so well.”

O’Halloran hinted that a power and guile combination in Scotland’s midfield was in the coaches’ thinking; and with them still unsure of the availability status of Duncan Taylor, that clearly points to a renewal of the Alex DunbarHuw Jones combination so successful in the first two Autumn Tests

“I’ve always felt that a successful midfield has a balance of skills. So obviously Alex is a big, strong lad who tackles really well and is a good front-foot ball carrier and off-setting that with someone who has good footwork and ball playing ability is a good combination.

“Huw has brought us pace, great footwork – and he can distribute either way, He’s got one of the most rounded skill sets I’ve seen.

“Obviously what we’ve seen so far is the feet and the speed, but he can distribute the ball really well.

“As well as being a really good athlete, he also brings that excitement of a new guy into the environment, visibly enjoying every minute of it. He enjoys the guys he’s around, so that’s helpful.”

So enthused has O’Halloran been about working with Scotland’s national set-up that he admits there is a little disappointment he is moving on after less than two years with the change of head coach, but he’s genuinely keen to get back today-to-day coaching at Glasgow with Dave Rennie, and that was his reasoning for turning down a Lions role.

“I was flattered to be asked. But, ultimately, I had a responsibility to Glasgow.

“I wasn’t under any pressure not to go with the Lions. But, with a lot of the Glasgow squad away with Gregor in Australia, I felt it was important that the next group of players come through, that’s where you win championships.

“At Glasgow, we will have a big say in how the national team improves because a lot of the skills that need improving in this Scotland squad gets done with the PRO12 sides, on a day-to-day basis.

“If Scotland go on and become as good as I think they can be in the next 24 months, it’s important that we improve the skills of our players.

“Working with Dave Rennie again was a big carrot to me to go to Glasgow. But it was also that I can continue to work with Hoggy, Finn, Alex – all those guys. That’s what made it such an easy decision.”

Ultimately this team will be at its best in a couple of years’ time. JASON O’HALLORAN